The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1887-01-06
SCIENCE OF FASTING
AS ExPOUNDED BY A MAN WHO
TASTED FoRTY-FlVE DAYS.


Mr.. John Griscom Thinks a Thirty Days
Fast an Insignificant Matter-Succi and
His Elixir-Fastipg as a Remedial
Agent.
Learning that Mr.. John Griscom, who
tasted forty-five days in Chicago in 1881,
was in town, a reporter from this paper
called on him for q talk on the subject.
He said that in the last twenty years
since he made the ?subject a special
study, he has tasted at least fifty times,
the periods being all the way from two
and three weeks to thirty days, besides
his celebrated fast of forty-five days
which is the longest time On record.
''In fact, I have tasted these periods so
many times he added, ''that consider
a fast of twenty-five or thirty days as an
insignificant matter For such period
it requires no special effort or endurance
it is consistent-for there is no appar-
ent chance il = person who goes at it in
the right way , any depletion. From
my experience l regard it as a natural
thing, and as easy to fast twenty-five or
thirty day as three days [ have often
gone without food for twenty one days,
and have shown no sign of having gone
without meal"
''What about others you know of who
have fasted?''
"Well, there is DR.. E. P. Miller, of this
city, who tells me he tasted twenty-three
days, and the people in the hotel where
he was living did not know of it. He
kept at his work right along anG it did
not affect him at all. This is entirely
contrary to Tanners fast, over which so
much was made here, which was one of
supreme endurance Another man whom
/ have met who tasted was very I'M
usual and remarkable case. He went by
the name of Budd Henry. He was cap
tured by the Indians and put in a cave
where his surroundings were so dis
agreeable that he could not eat mouth
full. He tasted in this way thirty-nine
and three-quarter days before he effected
his escape. A remarkable result followed.
He developed wonderful mental ca
pacity an astonished every one by it.
But this was an entirely exceptional
case.
SCCCI AND HIS ELIXIR.
''What do l think of Succi and his
elixir, drop of which enables him to
fast forty-eight llrs? Though 1 think
such q thing would be a very beneficial
discovery, l take no stock in it. AS to
Fisher, whose elixir it is claimed will en-
able other people to fast, l think what
he attributes to the effect of his elixir, is
due simply to belief that it makes fast
ing uninjurious. 1t is a matter of fact
that person does feel better after a fast
of forty-eight hours. 1t is true that
craving for food will take place in this
time, because the system is in the habit
of taking food, but after that the sensa-
ton does not occur.
''The application of all this is the en-
listmen- of all the intellectual faculties.
A person to fast through the will power,
not believing it is right, would destroy
the nervous system in two or three days.
But if there is. full belief that it can be
done, without harm, one can do it easily.
The trouble is the majority of people be-
heve that it can't be done, and thus peo-
pie brighten themelves to death rather
than Starve to death. / never found,
until 1 tasted, human being-doctors
Or anybody else-who thought it at all
probable such a thing could be done. Even
now leading physicians insist that it can't
be done. For years / have given the sub
ject special study, and believe it is time
now, in the renewed agitation of the sub
ject, to make the application. Either
fasting is a good thing or it isn't. This
is the secret that physicians, physiolO-
giStS and scientists have not found out
yet"
L.
Suppose the prejudice against fasting
to be removed what will be the practical
reSultss''
at would be shown TO be the greatest
remedial agent known. 1t would be the
means of killing incipient diseases and
effect remarkable cures. With the preju-
dice against fasting wholly removed any
one in the enjoyment of perfect health,
could fast two or three weeks without in
But if q man should fast
simply as an experiment. without a full
belief that he could do it, he would lSu
himself. My own life was saved by fast
ng. 1 don't look like a very sick man
low, do I? and yet all l eat a day is a
small loaf of bread and some fruit, with
;wo or three cups of coffee. (Mr Girls
;om is a large, well built man, weighing
)ver 200 pounds, and has a rudy healthy
ook.)
81 walk five or ten miles day, have a
lear head and never a thought of hunger
[ have got to prefer this way of living,
Ind lind it amply sufficient. From this
I'm convinced that people would be a
good deal healthier if they should eat .
ess"
Are you willing to demonstrate these
IDEAS to the public
II have gotten through with fasting,
md had almost forgotten about my long
asst until the attention now being called
20 the subject recalled it to ME, and l
would not undertake to fast again unless
t should become important in the inter
'sts of science to do so. Even then I
hould want everything about the expert
nent to be thoroughly respectable and to
'e invited to do SO by the best authority.
f it seemed necessary to get at the truth,
Is compared with elixir business, then I
would be willing to put myself entirely
lnder scientific care for, say, thirty days
asst, regarding which Psychologists might
make their own conditions provided they
we're reputable men. New York Mail
nd Express.
Picture of Puget Sound.
PuOpt corpd liac Tho n ho,5 I'LL, 81